Yes—you really do. Every time we eat, the natural bacteria in our mouth use that food to produce acid, and that acid softens and weakens enamel. Brushing removes the food source, reduces the bacteria, and helps your teeth recover before that acid damage becomes a cavity.

Sugar makes this process much faster. Each time you eat something sweet, the mouth becomes acidic for about 30 minutes. So if you eat one large candy all at once, that’s one acid attack. But if you snack on the same candy in several small portions throughout the day, you trigger multiple separate acid attacks—giving your teeth many more chances to decay.

Chewing sugar-free gum can help stimulate saliva, which naturally neutralizes acid and protects your enamel.

For most people, brushing twice a day is the ideal routine. It matters more how consistently you brush than which brand of toothpaste you use. Regular brushing is one of the simplest and most powerful things you can do to prevent future dental problems.